Silverwear Protective Supports

ABSTRACT

A protective support for an article of silverwear has a body with a lowermost interface to a tabletop and an uppermost region presenting a cradle opening vertically upward for restraining a silverwear utensil, the cradle having a bottom restraint supporting the silverwear utensil, and side restraints constraining the supported silverwear utensil from moving off the support on either side.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The instant invention is in the technical area of apparatus for diningand pertains more particularly to protective supports for silverwear,also termed flatwear.

2. Description of Related Art

In conventional art a dining establishment, such as a restaurant or abar, for example, when serving a customer, may provide a napkin andplace a knife, a fork and a spoon on the napkin at a place setting for aparticular customer. A user typically considers the napkin to bepurposed for wiping the user's lips or fingers in the process of eatingand not to be associated particularly with the silverwear. Accordingly,once the user uses the napkin it is placed aside or in the user's lap,and the silverwear may be on the tabletop. Some establishments mayprovide the silverwear wrapped in a napkin, either paper or cloth,

Even casual observation reveals that tabletops in dining establishmentsare not kept clean, at the time of filing this patent application duringthe COVID-19 pandemic poor care in cleaning tables and placingsilverwear on the tabletop may be life threatening for a customer.

What is clearly needed is apparatus and method for assuring thatsilverwear, which a user will invariably place in the mouth, is providedsterile to a customer in a dining establishment and kept apart frompossibly contaminated surfaces of the tabletop.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment of the present invention a protective support for anarticle of silverwear is provided, comprising a body having a lowermostinterface to a tabletop and an uppermost region presenting a cradleopening vertically upward for restraining a silverwear utensil, thecradle having a bottom restraint supporting the silverwear utensil, andside restraints constraining the supported silverwear utensil frommoving off the support on either side. In one embodiment of theinvention the body has a plurality of cradles implemented side to sidefor a plurality of silverwear utensils. Also, in one embodiment the bodyis molded from a polymer material, the cradles are v-shaped with a flatbottom and angled sidewalls providing a wider entrance than a width ofthe bottom of the cradle, and wherein the lowermost interface to thetabletop is a flat, planar surface. In one embodiment the body comprisesa rearward portion with the cradles implemented therein, and a forwardportion comprising a forward support surface at a height less than aheight of the flat bottom of the cradles. And in one embodiment thesupport comprises indicia on the forward support surface in front ofeach cradle, the indicia indicating a specific silverwear utensil to besupported in the specific cradle associated with the indicia.

In one embodiment of the invention the body is formed of a plurality ofrectangular flat sheets joined along edges at angles such that lowermostjoined edges may provide the interface to the table top, and uppermostjoined edges provide v-shaped cradles opening upward for restrainingsilverwear utensils. Also, in one embodiment the body is formed from asingle flat sheet of metal or polymer to have a forward portion arcingto an uppermost height having an apex, and wherein cradles aredepressions implemented side-by-side along the apex of the forwardportion, the depressions having a flat central region and raisedsidewalls, providing cradles. And in one embodiment slots implementedside-by-side in a direction of the length of the support passing throughthe forward portion to a specific depth, provide cradles for supportingsilverwear utensils, with forward and rearward edges of slots formingbottom of cradles, and side edges of slots forming sides of the cradles.

In another aspect of the invention a method for protecting a silverwearutensil from possible contamination from a tabletop is provided,comprising providing to the tabletop a protective support having a bodywith a lowermost interface to a tabletop and an uppermost regionpresenting a cradle opening vertically upward for restraining asilverwear utensil apart from the tabletop, the cradle having a bottomrestraint supporting the silverwear utensil, and side restraintsconstraining the supported silverwear utensil from moving off thesupport on either side, and placing a silverwear utensil onto thesupport with a portion of the utensil restrained in the cradle.

In one embodiment of the method the protective support has a pluralityof cradles implemented side to side for a plurality of silverwearutensils. Also, in one embodiment the body is molded from a polymermaterial, the cradles are v-shaped with a flat bottom and angledsidewalls providing a wider entrance than a width of the bottom of thecradle, and wherein the lowermost interface to the tabletop is a flat,planar surface. In one embodiment the body comprises a rearward portionwith the cradles implemented therein, and a forward portion comprising aforward support surface at a height less than a height of the flatbottom of the cradles. And in one embodiment the method comprisesindicia on the forward support surface in front of each cradle, theindicia indicating a specific silverwear utensil to be supported in thespecific cradle associated with the indicia.

In one embodiment the method comprises forming the body from a pluralityof rectangular flat sheets joined along edges at angles such thatlowermost joined edges may provide the interface to the table top, anduppermost joined edges provide v-shaped cradles opening upward forrestraining silverwear utensils. In one embodiment the method comprisesforming the body from a single flat sheet of metal or polymer to have aforward portion arcing to an uppermost height having an apex, andwherein cradles are depressions implemented side-by-side along the apexof the forward portion, the depressions having a flat central region andraised sidewalls, providing cradles. And in one embodiment the methodcomprises implementing slots side-by-side in a direction of the lengthof the support passing through the forward portion to a specific depth,provide cradles for supporting silverwear utensils, with forward andrearward edges of slots forming bottom of cradles, and side edges ofslots forming sides of the cradles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a protective silverwear support in oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from above of the silverwear support ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end elevation view of support 100 in the direction of thearrow referring to FIG. 3 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of support 100 in the direction of thearrow referring to FIG. 4 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is the side elevation view of FIG. 4 with a fork supported in anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a silverwear support in an alternativeembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of yet another silverwear support inanother alternative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7B is a section view of the support of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 7C is a section along an apex of a forward region of the body o thesupport in an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a protective silverwear support 100 in oneembodiment of the present invention. Support 100 in this embodiment hasa forward section 101 and a cradle section 102. Forward section 101 inthis implementation has indicia 103, 104 and 105 indicating a fork, aknife and a spoon in order. FIG. 2 is a perspective view from above suchthat detail of cradle section 102 is more apparent. It may be seen thatthree cradles are formed in the cradle section, cradle 106 to hold afork, cradle 107 to hold a knife and cradle 108 to hold a spoon.

In one embodiment support 100 may be injection molded from a suitablepolymer material or may be molded in a different way. The support mayalso be machined from a polymer block, or from a block of metal or othermaterial.

FIG. 3 is an end elevation view of silverwear support 100 in thedirection of the arrow in FIG. 1 referring to FIG. 3. This is an endview that clearly shows the three cradles 106, 107 and 108 that areprovided for a fork, a knife 107 and a spoon 108. It may be seen in FIG.3 that the cradles 106 for a fork and 108 for a spoon are wider thancradle 107 for a knife. This is because, in this implementation, theknife is expected to be placed in the cradle with the knife bladesubstantially vertical, and less width is needed. Further it may be seenin FIG. 3 that the sides of the cradle in each case are angled withvertical, making the cradle opening wider at the top than the width ofthe cradle at the bottom. A purpose is to have a wider target at the topfor placing or replacing a utensil in the cradle, with the angled sidesdirecting the utensil toward the center of the cradle as the utensil islowered into the cradle.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of support 100 in the viewpointdirection indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1 referring to FIG. 4. A sideview of cradle section 102 and forward section 101 reveals that section101 provides a support at a lower level than the cradles of the cradlesection, and the sections are joined by an angled edge 109 seen also inFIG. 1. It may also be seen in FIG. 4 that an upper surface 110 offorward section 101 is at an angle with horizontal, a purpose of whichis to prevent a utensil from sliding forward.

FIG. 5 is the side view of FIG. 4 with addition of a fork 501 placed incradle 106 with a forward portion of the fork resting on surface 110 ofthe forward section of the support, and a handle of the fork resting ona bottom surface of cradle 106. A skilled person will understand that aknife placed in cradle 107 with a blade substantially vertical may reston a bottom surface of cradle 107 with a forward part of the bladeresting on surface 110. Also, a spoon placed in cradle 108 may have ahandle of the spoon resting on a bottom surface of cradle 108 and aforward part of the spoon resting on surface 110.

The dimensions of support 100 may vary considerably, but are generallysmaller than the overall length of a knife, fork or spoon, and the widthof the cradles is implemented to have a bottom surface of the cradlejust wider than the width of the handle of the utensil meant for aparticular cradle.

In the descriptions above there are three cradles, assuming threeutensils, assuming a knife, a fork and a spoon. In some circumstancesthere may be two cradles, or just one, and in some circumstances theremay be more than three cradles, to accommodate more than three utensils.

In embodiments of the invention according to the descriptions referringto FIGS. 1-5 the dimensions and shapes of support 100 may be implementedto operate with utensils such that handles of the utensils do not toucha tabletop upon which support 10 may be placed, and forward portions ofutensils may also be supported above the tabletop, and not touch. A usermay thus be assured that6 any bacteria or virus that may contaminate thetabletop will not transfer to a utensil supported in support 100.

In conventional process in a dining establishment, utensils aretypically washed and sterilized between use, and kept in a safe regionafter sterilization. By the use of he term sterilize in this document,we mean treated as silverwear and other dining utensils areconventionally treated in a dining establishment, which I typically doneby hot water or steam, the purpose being to make the treated implementsfree from bacteria or other living organisms. In the time of a pandemicextra precaution may be taken to keep clean utensils from becomingcontaminated before re-use. In processes according to embodiments of thepresent invention supports 100 may also be washed and sterilized betweenuses and may be kept clean until reused. In some cases, a server wearinggloves may bring sterile utensils and supports 100 to a table, andarrange a table setting prior to a dining party being seated. In analternative process the server may bring the support and utensils aftera dining party is seated, so the persons may see the placement of thesupports and utensils. There may be verbal instructions given for use,or written instructions provided.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a silverwear support 601 according to analternative embodiment of the invention. Support 601 is implemented withseven planar portions joined along edges of the portions, the portionsbeing elements 602, 603, 604, 605, 606, 607 and 608. In this example theplanar portions are each rectangular, and the portions are joined alonglong edges of adjacent portions. Portions 602, 604, 606 and 608 have acommon length and width, and portions 603, 605 and 607 also have acommon length and width. Angles at joined edges are repeated such thatthe joined edge between portion 602 and 603, the joined edge betweenportions 604 and 605, and the joined edge between portions 606 and 607may all lie on a supporting surface like a tabletop, forming therebythree cradles 609, 610 and 611.

In use utensils may be placed in cradles 609, 610 and 611 and theutensils will be thus supported above a tabletop, making contact onlywith one or more surfaces of support 601. In some circumstances thelength L may be as long as or longer than the length of an individualutensil to be supported. In some other circumstances, length L may beless, so only a forward part of each utensil is contacted with surfacesof support 601.

Support 601 may be mechanically folded from a single sheet of metal orpolymer, or separate rectangular portions may be joined along edges tomake a finished support. As was described above with regard to FIGS. 1-5support 601 may be washed and sterilized along with, or in parallel withsilver wear, and provided to a tabletop by a server either before orafter a dining party is seated.

In one embodiment support 601 may be formed of a heavy paper orreinforced paper material, folded along the edge lines. In the paperimplementation support 601 is to be discarded after use but is to beprovided to diners in a clean and sterile condition.

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of yet another silverwear support 701 inanother alternative embodiment of the invention. In this implementationa sheet of suitable material, rectangular is aspect and of a thicken tthat may vary in different embodiments from a minimum of about 1/16 inchto about ¼ inch is formed in curved aspect to have a rearward portion702 and a forward portion 703 that has a curvature that produces aheight h with points x, y and z resting on a tabletop or anothersupporting surface.

Support 701 may be made of a heat-moldable polymer and may be formed tothe shape shown. Other materials may suffice as well. Such as metalslike copper or aluminum that may be stamped to the shape shown.

Portion 703 has three depressed regions 704 a, 704 b and 704 c thatserve as cradles in this embodiment. FIG. 7B is a section of support 701taken along line 705 that passes through center of region 704 c. Thesection line passes through region 704 c, and it may be seen that thesection through region 704 c presents a straight, horizontal line. Thisis common as well for regions 704 a and 704 b.

FIG. 7B is a section through support 701 taken along line 705 of FIG.7A. The section has been rotated somewhat to show the support resting ona horizontal surface like a tabletop on the three points x, y and z. Thesection through region 704 c illustrates a flat, horizontal line, as abottom surface of a cradle formed by depressed region 704 c.

FIG. 7C is a lateral section through support 701 along a line at theapex of region 703 passing through all three depressed regions 704 a,704 b and 704 c. It may be seen by this section that the three depressedregions provide each a cradle for a utensil with a flat bottom andraised walls at each side. Support 701 may thus be seen to providecradles to support three utensils in this example, such as a knife, afork and a spoon. In other embodiment there may one or two cradles, ormore than three. Support 701 may be employed in use much as describedabove for other embodiments, with the support being cleaned andsterilized between uses, along with utensils, and provided to a tablefor use.

In one embodiment support 701 may be formed of a heavy paper orreinforced paper material, pressed into the shape illustrated. In thepaper implementation support 701 is to be discarded after use but is tobe provided to diners in a clean and sterile condition.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of yet another support 801 in analternative embodiment of the invention. Support 801 is similar in formto support 701 described above, in that the body of the support is madefrom a sheet of material that may be heat formed or stamped to the shapeshown in FIG. 8, having a forward region 803 higher than a rearwardregions 802. Cradles in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 are provided byslots 804, 805 and 806 that may be cut through the material of thesupport. Front and rear edges of each slot provide a bottom for a cradleand left and right edges provide the sidewalls of a cradle. The slotsmay be provided in different width depending on a utensil a slot ismeant to support. In use a utensil may placed in a slot with a forwardpart of a handle in the slot and the rest of the handle lying on portion802. Materials may be metal or polymer, or in one embodiment thematerial may be heavy paper or reinforced paper, as a disposablesupport.

In one embodiment support 801 may be formed of a heavy paper orreinforced paper material, formed to the shape illustrated. In the paperimplementation support 801 is to be discarded after use but is to beprovided to diners in a clean and sterile condition.

A skilled person will understand that the embodiments illustrated anddescribed above are entirely exemplary and are not specifically limitingto the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is limitedonly by the language of the claims.

1. A protective support for an article of silverwear, comprising: a bodyhaving a lowermost interface to a tabletop and an uppermost regionpresenting a cradle opening vertically upward for restraining asilverwear utensil, the cradle having side restraints constraining thesupported silverwear utensil from moving horizontally off the support oneither side.
 2. The protective support of claim 1 having a plurality ofcradles implemented side to side for a plurality of silverwear utensils.3. The protective support of claim 2 wherein the body is molded from apolymer material, the cradles are v-shaped with a flat bottom and angledsidewalls providing a wider entrance than a width of the bottom of thecradle, and wherein the lowermost interface to the tabletop is a flat,planar surface.
 4. The protective support of claim 3 wherein the bodycomprises a rearward portion with the cradles implemented therein, and aforward portion comprising a forward support surface at a height lessthan a height of the flat bottom of the cradles.
 5. The protectivesupport of claim 4 comprising indicia on the forward support surface infront of each cradle, the indicia indicating a specific silverwearutensil to be supported in the specific cradle associated with theindicia.
 6. The protective support of claim 1 wherein the body is formedof a plurality of rectangular flat sheets joined along edges at anglessuch that lowermost joined edges provide the interface to the table top,and uppermost joined edges provide v-shaped cradles opening upward forrestraining silverwear utensils.
 7. The protective support of claim 1wherein the body is formed from a single flat sheet of metal or polymerto have a forward portion arcing to an uppermost height having an apex,and wherein cradles are depressions implemented side-by-side along theapex of the forward portion, the depressions having a flat centralregion and raised sidewalls, providing cradles.
 8. The protectivesupport of claim 7 wherein slots implemented side-by-side in a directionof the length of the support passing through the forward portion to aspecific depth, provide cradles for supporting silverwear utensils, withforward and rearward edges of slots forming bottom of cradles, and sideedges of slots forming sides of the cradles.
 9. A method for protectinga silverwear utensil from possible contamination from a tabletop,comprising: providing to the tabletop a protective support having a bodywith a lowermost interface to a tabletop and an uppermost regionpresenting a cradle opening vertically upward for restraining asilverwear utensil apart from the tabletop, side restraints constrainingthe supported silverwear utensil from moving horizontally off thesupport on either side; and placing a silverwear utensil onto thesupport with a portion of the untensil restrained in the cradle.
 10. Themethod of claim 9 wherein the protective support has a plurality ofcradles implemented side to side for a plurality of silverwear utensils.11. The method of claim 10 wherein the body is molded from a polymermaterial, the cradles are v-shaped with a flat bottom and angledsidewalls providing a wider entrance than a width of the bottom of thecradle, and wherein the lowermost interface to the tabletop is a flat,planar surface.
 12. The method of claim 1 lwherein the body comprises arearward portion with the cradles implemented therein, and a forwardportion comprising a forward support surface at a height less than aheight of the flat bottom of the cradles.
 13. The method of claim 12comprising indicia on the forward support surface in front of eachcradle, the indicia indicating a specific silverwear utensil to besupported in the specific cradle associated with the indicia.
 14. Themethod of claim 9 comprising forming the body from a plurality ofrectangular flat sheets joined along edges at angles such that lowermostjoined edges provide the interface to the table top, and uppermostjoined edges provide v-shaped cradles opening upward for restrainingsilverwear utensils.
 15. The method of claim 9 comprising forming thebody from a single flat sheet of metal or polymer to have a forwardportion arcing to an uppermost height having an apex, and whereincradles are depressions implemented side-by-side along the apex of theforward portion, the depressions having a flat central region and raisedsidewalls, providing cradles.
 16. The method of claim 15 comprisingimplementing slots side-by-side in a direction of the length of thesupport passing through the forward portion to a specific depth, providecradles for supporting silverwear utensils, with forward and rearwardedges of slots forming bottom of cradles, and side edges of slotsforming sides of the cradles.